Uses and Grindifications: Examining the Motivators and Antecedents of Grindr Usage Among GBMSM

Grindr is a popular geospatial networking application (GSNA) among gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM); it can be used for variety of goals (e.g. finding dates, making friends, or coordinating a hookup) depending on the user's wants. These needs and wants, however, do not arise in a vacuum. Informed by uses and gratification (U&G) theory, this paper examined individual factors such as race, body image and depression as drivers of the motivations behind Grindr usage In an online cross-sectional survey (N = 102), we explored the antecedents of six different motivations (i.e. friendship, sex, entertainment, romantic partnership, social inclusion, and location-based community) for Grindr use among GBMSM. The results revealed that romance and friendship motives increased Grindr usage compared to the other four motivation categories. Across motivation categories, habitual Grindr usage was a significant driver of continued Grindr use. Individual factors such as race, sociosexuality and self-disclosure also influenced users' motivations to use Grindr. Overall, the results point to individual factors eliciting differing motivations for Grindr use, resulting in either outcome-based or passive usage of the application.